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New York Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
What to know about Broncos camp, Day 3: Courtland Sutton turns page with new deal
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Denver Broncos practiced in pads for the first time this training camp and focused heavily on the run game during their three team periods. Let's dive right into what we learned: • Monday may have marked the last light practice of training camp for Courtland Sutton. The veteran wide receiver participated in no 11-on-11 periods for the second straight practice as his camp and the Broncos put the finishing touches on a contract extension. An hour after the session ended, the Broncos finalized a four-year, $92 million extension with the 29-year-old wide receiver, according to league sources. Advertisement The two sides may have wanted to get to the finish line before preparations for the season began, but Broncos coach Sean Payton certainly wasn't worried about the impact of Sutton having a few limited practices to begin camp. 'Not with a veteran like Courtland, who is real smart,' Payton said. 'He's been participating in all the individual (drills), all the one-on-ones. He's gotten some seven-on-seven work and he's gotten some team reps. It's just being smart. It would be different if you felt like he was missing improvement or not being out here or being out here and just riding the (exercise) bike or something. I know that player well enough to feel real good about where he's at it and his mindset, both mentally and physically.' The important thing is that the Broncos have locked up the team's top target for the foreseeable future. We'll need to wait for the full details of the deal to assess what it looks for the team and the player in the year to come, but with $41 million in guarantees, this clearly makes Sutton an important part of the picture during what the Broncos hope will be a contending window in the next few seasons. He had a career high in both targets (7.9 per game) and receptions (81) last season and is benefiting from a play caller/quarterback continuity he hasn't previously had in his career. It should have both sides feeling good about the deal that came together Monday. The question now is whether the Broncos can come to extension agreements with any combination of defensive standouts Zach Allen, Nik Bonitto and John Franklin-Myers before training camp ends. I broke the news of Courtland Sutton's four-year extension to Bo Nix: — Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) July 28, 2025 • Payton said linebacker Drew Sanders suffered a ligament injury in his foot during Saturday's practice that will keep him out 'north of four to six weeks,' but the Broncos are still awaiting a firm timeline while they assess treatment options. The good news, Payton said, is that Sanders didn't suffer tendon damage in the foot, which would have extended his absence. Advertisement 'The ligament repair is a much easier one,' Payton said, 'so we were all pretty happy with that.' • Elsewhere at inside linebacker, veteran Alex Singleton left the field with a trainer late in practice. Tests later revealed Singleton suffered a broken thumb, according to a league source. • Evan Engram is clearly starting to get more comfortable with his role in Denver's offense and had arguably his top practice of camp Monday. The highlight was a nifty catch along the sideline on a deep pass from Jarrett Stidham. Later, Engram made a tough catch in traffic in the middle field as linebacker Dre Greenlaw and others closed in around him. One thing has been clear since Engram took the field with the Broncos in the spring, something that has materialized further in training camp: The Broncos will have much more catch-and-run production out of the tight end spot this season. Engram said it has been 'awesome' to see how Payton wants to maximize the tight end position. 'I feel like my strengths are being used at the highest level,' Engram said. 'He also challenges me to be sharp with my tools and be sharp with my details, and the little things I need to clean up and get better at. He challenges me every single day. The different ways that they're planning to use me, the mentality they have and (the mentality) I want to have in the run game as well to make that entire thing universal. I'm just really excited to be in his scheme and excited to work with him throughout the season to help this team the best way I can.' • Rookie running back RJ Harvey made the most of his work during a run-heavy, first team period. On his first carry, he was able to outrun Franklin-Myers to the edge for a solid gain. On his next carry, a toss to the left side, Harvey darted straight ahead and cut back inside sharply to avoid a linebacker and pick up extra yards. Harvey also made a catch along the sideline after running a sharp route out of the backfield. Again, it's hard to dive too deeply into evaluation of the run game without tackling being introduced into the equation in the preseason, but Monday offered more encouraging signs for the rookie running back. • P.J. Locke nearly intercepted a pass from Stidham during the second team period. He timed his break perfectly as Stidham tried to bury a throw to wide receiver Troy Franklin on the sideline, but the safety couldn't quite bring it in. Locke may not have come down with the ball, but the play was nonetheless another indication that he has shown no ill effects of the spinal fusion surgery he had in the offseason after playing much of the 2024 season in significant pain. Advertisement 'I've been super, super impressed and I tell (Locke) every day how good he looks,' fellow safety Brandon Jones said. 'His feet, his speed, everything. It looks like he hasn't lost a step at all.' • Monday was technically a non-contact practice for the Broncos, but with pads on the session took on a more physical tone than the team's first two full practices of camp. A prime example came during the second team period when defensive tackle Malcolm Roach swam through the line of scrimmage and essentially clotheslined Harvey right after the rookie running back took the handoff from Stidham. Tight end Lucas Krull had an inauspicious start to training camp when inside linebacker Levelle Bailey twice ripped the ball out of his hands during a practice last week. But he responded Monday with a big catch up the seam in traffic, hauling in an on-the-money pass from quarterback Sam Ehlinger. Krull led Broncos tight ends with 19 receptions last season, but his roster spot is no guarantee heading into 2025 after the Broncos added Engram in free agency and then drafted Caleb Lohner in the seventh round. 'He plays like Mike Tyson.' — Payton on Greenlaw The linebacker spoke to the media Monday for the first time since joining the team in free agency in March, and he said he has heard similar descriptions of his play style before. 'You never know when it's going to be your last chance to play on the field, so you want to make a strong statement every time you can,' Greenlaw said. 'So I just love being able to do it.' Greenlaw said his decision to join the Broncos, despite a late push from the 49ers to re-sign him, came down to feeling 'wanted' in a way that felt genuine. 'It wasn't easy, of course, but they wanted me,' Greenlaw said. 'It was never 'ifs, ands, buts, maybe, this or that.' It was like, 'You should be here.' I was a foster kid growing up, so there's not a lot of time that people just wanted me, you know? It just made me feel special and feel like this is where I needed to be.' Advertisement Veteran right tackle Mike McGlinchey returned to practice Monday after missing the previous three workouts for an undisclosed reason. McGlinchey, though, did not appear to participate in team drills. That meant continued work for third-year lineman Alex Palczewski, who made three starts in place of McGlinchey early last season and has become a key part of Denver's plans on the offensive line. 'He's played a lot of football and he's smart,' Payton said of Palczewski. 'He can go inside and play guard, play tackle. He can play jumbo tight end. (He has) that versatility. His football awareness and his football IQ, along with his strength, we didn't feel like there was a step backward when he was playing (in 2024). That's what you hope for with a young developmental offensive lineman.' (Top photo of Sutton: Isaiah J. Downing / Imagn Images)
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bears training camp observations: The pads finally come on with Day 5
The Chicago Bears were back on the practice field at Halas Hall on Monday morning for the fifth practice of training camp -- and their first in pads this summer. It was a blistering first day in pads for the Bears during a nearly-two hour session that focused heavily on the run game. But there were some standout performances during 1-on-1 drills, including in the trenches, and two young rookies continue to impress. As far as attendance goes, rookie wide receiver Luther Burden III practiced for the first time (only during position drills) as he ramps up from a hamstring injury. Meanwhile, rookie defensive tackle Shemar Turner (ankle), rookie cornerback Zah Frazier (personal) and center Doug Kramer (leg) were all sidelined. Offensive tackle Kiran Amegadjie, who exited Saturday's practice with a leg injury, was back out on the field. Here are some observations, from media members in attendance, following Monday's training camp practice: First padded practice had major emphasis on run game Luther Burden III was out on the practice field (in limited fashion) Colston Loveland had another impressive practice JP Richardson continues to shine Bears rotated all three competing left tackles Offensive line impressed during 1-on-1 drills OL Doug Kramer (leg) listed as day-to-day DE Tanoh Kpassagnon was carted off with apparent hand/wrist injury OL Bill Murray came off the field limping with an apparent left knee injury Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears training camp observations: The pads finally come on with Day 5
